A disabled pensioner died after the mobility car she was travelling in was struck by a lorry.

Audrey Anderson, 80, was travelling to a funeral with husband James, who was driving, on the morning of November 17, 2011, when their car suddenly slowed, an inquest into her death heard on Tuesday.

An 18 tonne Volvo large goods vehicle, driven by Dennis Siddal, hit the back of the modified Peugeot Horizon, which was carrying Mrs Anderson in her wheelchair.

The inquest heard that the crash, on Moss Hall Road, pushed Mrs Anderson's wheelchair forward, trapping her inside the back of the van.

She was cut out of the wreckage by fire crews and taken to Fairfield General Hospital where she died hours later.

Mrs Anderson, of Pendleton Croft, Hind Hill Street, had six children, 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

After Mrs Anderson's death, both Mr Anderson and Mr Siddal were interviewed by police.

In his interview Mr Anderson, who had been married to his wife for 27 years, told officers that while approaching a bend he began to slow, so he could change gear.

He said in his interview that as he put his foot on the clutch the car suddenly 'stopped dead' on the road.

Mr Anderson said he had not changed gear or touched the breaks – meaning the breaking lights did not flash.

The lorry then hit the back of the car.

Mr Siddal, 54, worked at Archbold Logistics and was returning to the depot at nearby Birch Industrial Estate.

He told police in his interview in January 2012 that he saw the Peugeot driving in front of him but described the car as almost 'wobbling'.

After checking his mirrors and speedometer he realised the car had stopped and despite swerving and breaking heavily was not able to avoid hitting the back of the vehicle.

Data taken from the truck showed that the lorry hit the car at 18mph.

Police tests also showed the Peugeot had not been stationary at the time of impact and it would have been travelling at below 16mph.

An investigator told the inquest that the Peugeot's sudden reduction in speed could have been caused by Mr Anderson selecting a wrong gear, labouring the engine.

PC Mark Dickman, senior forensic collision investigator, said that while there was damage to the car's servo unit, which would have impacted the breaks, this was caused by the collision.

He added: “It is the considered opinion of experts and myself that Mr Anderson had selected the wrong gear while approaching the bend, causing a rapid reduction in speed.

“The Peugeot was not stationary when it was struck.

“My analysis is that the LGV hit the Peugeot while it is still moving.”

PC Dickman said Mr Siddal would not have had any advance warning, as there would have been no break lights.

He also said that no faults were found with the LGV or Peugeot, which had only been driven down from Glasgow two months earlier.

Pathologist Dr Philip Lumb said Mrs Anderson received chest injuries, including broken ribs, and also suffered internal bleeding in the right side of her chest due to the impact of the crash.

Her cause of death was given as a right hemothorax due to chest injuries.

Recording a verdict of accidental death coroner Matthew Cox said: “The deceased received fatal injuries when as a wheel chair passenger in the back of a vehicle travelling along Moss Hall Road the vehicle was struck from behind by a heavy goods vehicle.

“The deceased died as a result of an accident.”

Paying tribute to his mum, Mrs Anderson's youngest son Robert Hughes told the inquest: “She was a proud women who loved her family.